Rhinos were moved indoors before storms hit in Kansas. Then one killed the other
A zoo staff in Kansas is mourning the loss of one of their beloved rhinos after he was killed by another rhino in an enclosure.
The Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City announced the death of one of their most enduring rhinos, named Jabari, who died on July 11 as a result of trauma, the zoo said in a July 17 statement shared on Facebook.
“An internal investigation determined that the two males gained access to each other overnight in the indoor quarters when one of them was able to push a gate open between the two separate areas where they were spending the night due to predicted storms,” the zoo said.
“The subsequent encounter between the two resulted in the trauma.”
The other rhino, Ayubu, received minor injuries from the fight.
The zoo has stated that the United States Department of Agriculture has been notified, and all are working to make sure a situation like the attack won’t happen again.
“The loss of Jabari came unexpectedly and is heartbreaking to all who cared for and knew him. He will be remembered for many of his endearing behaviors including his vocalizations and ‘hopping’ around his habitat when he got excited,” the zoo continued.
“We thank Jabari for his vital role in the AZA’s Species Survival Plan for Eastern Black Rhinoceros and for fostering connections with zoo guests of all ages that helped bring awareness to his critically endangered species.”
Garden City is about a 215-mile drive west from Wichita.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Rhinos were moved indoors before storms hit in Kansas. Then one killed the other."